Faith Bigger Than Goliath
In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel anoints David as the next king of Israel. This is pretty cool, and definitely unexpected for David; however, there is an issue. It’s less cool for Saul, Israel’s first and current king.
Still, I love a good underdog story, and I am excited when, in the next chapter, David volunteers to face the giant who has been taunting Israel’s army for forty days straight.
This is the moment! We all know David defeats Goliath, and there are so many great lessons in that, but I fear you’ve heard them all already.
It’s undeniably a great moment, but have you ever really thought about what happens next for David?
One would think a victory of this proportion would mean David was on the short path to coronation, but it did not play out that way.
In a “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” moment, Saul has David stay with him, not even letting him return home (1 Sam 18: 2). From there on, their relationship becomes strained as Saul repeatedly tries to kill David.
So here we are - David has slain Goliath. He’s been anointed as the next king, yet he is forced to go on the run. The people sing his praises while they dance, chanting, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Sam 21:11). Still, he must either run or fight Saul. Fighting Saul isn’t an option for David, since killing God’s current choice of king would be an act of disobedience against God.
So, what does David do? He runs and waits.
He is a young boy when he is first anointed king by Samuel. We don’t know his exact age, but scholars suggest he is likely around 10-12 years old. In 2 Samuel 5, we learn he is 30 when he becomes king over both Judah and Israel (after Saul’s death, David becomes king of Judah, but there’s a little civil war that goes down before he is the king of all of Israel).
So, let’s recap. For roughly twenty years, David waits for God to make happen the thing he promised. What is more, during these twenty years of waiting, he’s on the run, living in foreign lands, dealing at times with hunger.
I can’t help but wonder what he’s feeling during this time. I have some idea, and you likely do too, if you’ve read the Psalms, many of which David wrote. Some of them rejoice in the power and might of God, and some read like pity parties, begging God for rescue.
This is just all so very…human.
I’m encouraged in a “misery loves company” sort of way, truth be told. I don’t think any of us like waiting, especially when we are trying diligently to walk in obedience to God’s will. We certainly don’t like waiting while misery befalls us, through no fault of our own. Misery, by definition, isn’t fun.
The cool thing about David, though, is that he didn’t quit. He was imperfect, but he kept trusting and waiting on God, even when David could have taken Saul’s life and claimed the throne for himself.
Sometimes, the greatest test of our faith isn’t in just believing something will happen, but in waiting for it to do so. It’s in being willing to suffer as we wait on God’s plan and will.
That’s not the glamorous side of Christianity - at least not to most. I’d guess it’s a beautiful sight to God, though, when His people choose Him over their own timetables and comforts.
I would like that kind of faith.
Forget Goliath.
I think David’s greatest feat was in the waiting and struggle that came after he defeated the giant.
May we all have faith that perseveres like his.
